This Adventure Called Retirement

This was our day to see the magnificent Grand Tetons! Despite criss-crossing the country many times on military moves we never made it to this particular National Park. In the morning from our hotel it appeared that the day was partly sunny with some clouds, but we could not see the Teton Range from Jackson. As we drove out of Jackson and could view the Teton Range, to our great disappointment, low clouds shrouded the soaring peaks of these giants.

Not to be deterred, we decided to go in the Park and attempt to hike to one Taggert Lake (most of the park roads were still closed). Snow still covered most of the park and what appeared to be a trail quickly became just a snow path through the woods with the snow getting deeper and deeper. We decided to abandon our attempt and return to the drive, vowing to come back at a better time of year.

As disappointing as it was that we did not get a good view of the Grand Tetons, our route choice resulted in us driving roads off the beaten path that provided beautiful views in their own right. Since the road from Grand Teton to Yellowstone was closed due to snow we had to drive East across the rest of the Rockies in order to turn North to get to Montana. This took us through beautiful snow covered mountain passes and into the rugged high plains of Wyoming with red rock ranges, winding river valleys and canyons, interspersed with open cattle ranges.

We also crossed the Continental divide next to this unique mountain peak. This peak is named “Two Ocean Mountain” because water that falls on this mountain finds its way to either the Pacific or the Atlantic depending on which side of the peak the water runs.

We stopped for brunch at the Trailhead Restaurant in Riverton WY, a small cowboy town in central Wyoming. The cheeseburger was delicious and Mary enjoyed her BLT, but the pinnacle of the meal was their famous fresh-made warm cinnamon roll. This roll was huge, filling a normal sized dinner plate. Suffice it to say we took most of it with us in a take-out box to finish over the next few days.

Following brunch we continued north to Montana through the rugged canyons, river gorges, and open plains until we reached Miles City for a good night sleep.